Publix Negotiating Again For Mary Brickell Village Store

Four big-box retailers are negotiating for the 30,000-square-foot anchor site in Mary Brickell Village where Publix Super Markets recently canceled a lease it had held as it waited for the retail complex to open.

One of them — perhaps the frontrunner — is Publix.

"We are still negotiating with the landlord," said Anne Hendricks, the grocer’s media and community relations manager for the region. She refused to elaborate or discuss the chain’s former lease for the site, about midway between two existing Publix stores in Brickell.

The chain lists 651 Florida stores.

Marcos Freire, general manager of Mary Brickell Village, said Publix canceled its lease negotiated four years ago because its store at the long-delayed complex wasn’t ready by its promised delivery date. Three days later, he said, Publix officials told developers they were interested in negotiating a new lease.

Grand opening for the complex is now scheduled for September.

Negotiations for the space at 900 SW First Ave. are under way with four big-box retailers, including Publix, Mr. Freire said. Publix officials "are actively negotiating with us," he said. "There is a very good chance Publix is going to be the tenant there."

The site is to be the ground floor of Skyline at Mary Brickell Village, a 35-story, 369-unit condo tower under development by Skyline Equities Realty.

A handful of tenants have opened at the complex. Village officials plan to deliver units to most tenants April 30.